College of Business maintains prestigious AACSB accreditation

The College of Business has maintained its business and accounting accreditation by AACSB International, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

AACSB first accredited the College’s undergraduate programs in 1982 and the MBA in 1988. The College’s accounting programs (undergraduate and Master of Accountancy) first received this accreditation in 2004.

Only 579 schools of business, or less than 5% worldwide, have earned business accreditation. Only 170 have earned specialized accreditation for their accounting programs.

“AACSB International accreditation is the mark of quality distinction most widely sought by business schools. This accreditation is invaluable in attracting students and faculty. It also adds a touch of quality when meeting with business leaders in Chattanooga,” said Dr. Richard Casavant, dean, College of Business.

To obtain accounting accreditation an institution must first earn or maintain AACSB International business accreditation. Additionally, accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.

“It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, chief accreditation officer of AACSB International.

Schools not only must meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure continued delivery of high-quality education to students.

“To maintain accreditation a business program must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years, at which the program must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs,” said John Fulmer, associate dean, College of Business.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s achievement will be recognized in April at the 2010 AACSB International conference and annual meeting in Anaheim, CA.

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.